GameNight
Sideline Swami’s Week 10 Sectional Picks
It’s Playoff Time and nothing makes your favorite football forecaster happier than this time of year. Except, of course, an undefeated and nationally ranked Indiana University team – on the gridiron. That makes me downright giddy! Yes, the leaves have turned colors and the majestic beauty of another Midwestern autumn is upon us. GameNight once again will be down at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington this Saturday, hoping that the Hoosiers continue to smoke (Cigs) for at least another week. And all of our local teams in the state’s 1A-4A class assignments will embark upon the state finals, knowing that one slip-up means your season’s over. Good luck, men; leave it all on the field!
THE SWAMI SCALE
- CARROLL: My beloved Chargers deservedly remain atop Mount Swami heading into the Class 6A playoffs.
- SNIDER: The Panthers are still here for at least another week. In fact, at least another two weeks dare I say.
- EAST NOBLE: East Noble scored a school-record 75 points last Friday. And that was being merciful, folks.
- GARRETT: The Railroaders remain the lone unblemished team in the GameNight Nation. Pretty cool, G-men.
- LEO: The Lions are getting healthy at the right time, though a couple of their studs will be missing for tonight.
- COLUMBIA CITY: The Foxy CC Eagles are looking for their third sectional championship in program history.
- HOMESTEAD: Sparty has won two straight games, but a brutally tough playoff path awaits them in Class 6A.
- ADAMS CENTRAL: How fantastic would it be to see the Flying Jets down in Indy again this Turkey Weekend?
- HUNTINGTON NORTH: Has there been a better story than HN this year? I love watching these Vikings play.
- WEST NOBLE: The one glaring question remains up in Ligonier: will Seth Pruitt finally usurp big bro Brandon?
CLASS 4A:
SOUTH SIDE (2-7) at EAST NOBLE (8-1): Junior QB Robby Murphy has been a nice surprise for the upstart Archers. The Irishman throws a nice ball and will need a big game tonight against EN. The NE8-champion Knights, meanwhile, are big-time favorites in this one and I’m seeing a runaway.
SWAMI SAYS: East Noble by 38
LEO (7-2) at DEKALB (4-5): A rematch that needs no introduction, at least from the Barons’ point of view. They’re PO’d, and rightfully so. Will it translate to a DeKalb upset? I doubt it. “We can’t turn it over like we did last week and expect success,” Leo coach Jason Doerffler said. No problem, coach.
SWAMI SAYS: Leo by 36
COLUMBIA CITY (8-1) at BISHOP DWENGER (4-5): The Saints beat the Eagles seven straight seasons to close down CC campaigns about a decade or so ago, and own a 10-1 all-time series (playoff) edge vs. the Whitley men. I’m envisioning a defensive slugfest with CC escaping in the fourth quarter.
SWAMI SAYS: Columbia City by 4
NEW HAVEN (1-8) at WAYNE (3-5): Swami fave Dom Wallace moved to linebacker last week and tallied five tackles for the Bulldogs. Wayne might be sitting a few guys tonight, at least to start with, but it shouldn’t matter in the final outcome. Midweek, Kimar Nelson was listed as questionable for the Generals.
SWAMI SAYS: Wayne by 37
FRANKFORT (0-9) at HUNTINGTON NORTH (6-3): This one appears to be all Vikes as the winless wieners come to H-town for what appears to be a Viking vanquishing. Huntington North coach Mike Eshbach said that his squad is healthy. Look for a running clock midway through the third quarter.
SWAMI SAYS: Hunt. North by 55
CLASS 3A:
LAKELAND (5-4) at GARRETT (9-0): The ‘Roaders are the last unbeaten team in the GN Nation and coach DePew’s dudes should move to 10-0 easily. The Lakers are missing a couple of key cogs, which won’t help their cause. Carson Mickem (277 yards, 17 tackles the last two weeks) will definitely do his part.
SWAMI SAYS: Garrett by 28
WOODLAN (5-4) at TIPPECANOE VALLEY (6-3): The host Vikes are massive along both lines and are hoping their Death-Valley home-field edge is the difference. Senior C Gavin Vachon and his O-line mates are the keys for a Woodlan win. The Fleek(s) shall inherit the earth? Or at least Tippy turf? The Upset Special.
SWAMI SAYS: Woodlan by 1
WEST NOBLE (8-1) at ANGOLA (4-5): Will this be the week when senior RB Seth Pruitt finally surpasses big brother Brandon as the Chargers’ all-time rushing leader? Or will Angola QB Hawk Hasselman and the undersized Hornets steal the show and pull off the improbable upset? I’m going with Seth; the new WN rushing champion.
SWAMI SAYS: West Noble by 25
CONCORDIA (2-7) at FAIRFIELD (4-5): Don’t rule out a Concordia uprising here. The Cadets’ coaches know how to win in the postseason and Mother Nature promises to promote clear Goshen skies tomorrow night. I’ll say it right now: if Concordia goes for 200-plus yards and commits zero turnovers, the Cadets will win this game.
SWAMI SAYS: Fairfield by 7
NORWELL (2-7) at BISHOP LUERS (5-4): Knights vs. Knights figures to be all Luers, though the home folks have been snakebitten in recent weeks (having lost three straight games). But this is the time of year when the Knights (of Luers) make their money, so I’m predicting a runaway for the south-side Catlicks.
SWAMI SAYS: Luers by 36
JAY COUNTY (2-7) at BELLMONT (0-9): There’s hope for the Braves in the near future, as the lower levels of Bellmont football appear to be building some momentum. But it won’t translate into a win tonight against the Patriots. JC was 33 when he died, so that’s why I’m taking JC to win here by 33.
SWAMI SAYS: Jay County by 33
HERITAGE (8-1) at DELTA (4-5): The host Eagles have dropped five of their last six contests, leading me to believe that the visitors from Monroeville will make it six of seven. Still, Delta Dawn is a proud program and Patty would be wise to man up for this one. Give me Heritage by two tuddies, please.
SWAMI SAYS: Heritage by 14
CLASS 2A:
CHURUBUSCO (4-5) at MANCHESTER (5-4): Senior Brayden Bianski (the Fisherman’s brother) has two receiving TDs and some beautiful, angling punts over the last three games; he will lead the Busco boys into Chester for a fun 2A treat. If the Eagles can win on first down, they’ll survive and advance.
SWAMI SAYS: Busco by 9
ADAMS CENTRAL (8-1) at BLUFFTON (6-3): A rematch from two weeks ago when the Flying Jets flogged the Tigers, 49-24, in Monroe. This time, however, the loser goes home. If I were a gambler, I’d go with the AC annihilators as they embark upon a Class 2A journey for the first time in three decades.
SWAMI SAYS: Adams Central by 24
EASTSIDE (4-5) at WHITKO (0-9): GameNight is excited to introduce Job Richman, who will be under center this week for the Blazers. Assuredly the new QB will look to senior WR EJ Miller (10.0 ypr), who also has four INTs and 40 tackles on the season. Look for Beastside to pull back midway in the third quarter.
SWAMI SAYS: Eastside by 38
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (4-5) at CENTRAL NOBLE (0-9): If you could draw a roadmap of the Panthers’ improved play this fall it would go directly to the guys in the trenches, namely seniors Kris Levitz and Walker McCrea. If these two dudes do their thing once again, I’m taking The Heights by three TDs.
SWAMI SAYS: Prairie Heights by 21
CLASS 1A:
BLACKHAWK (1-7) at NORTH MIAMI (7-2): The Braves continue to fight under coach Brice Bennett, but this will be a tough matchup for the boys from BC. The Warriors have won four sectional titles through the years, though it’s been a dozen seasons since they’ve hoisted any hardware. This year, perhaps?
SWAMI SAYS: North Miami by 45
FREMONT (3-6) at NORTHFIELD (3-6): This one truly feels like a coin-flip game with both teams entering with identical 3-6 marks. Normally, I’d go with the Norsemen at home. But I believe coach Trev’s Eagles have vastly improved over the last month. Gimme some Cowboy-QB magic from the Fremont!
SWAMI SAYS: Fremont by 2
UNION CITY (2-7) at SOUTH ADAMS (4-5): SA coach Grant Moser believes UC is better than its record indicates. Is he being forthright? Or pulling a Lou Holtz on the ol’ Swami? Either way, my crystal balls tell me that the Starfires are at least five touchdowns better and I expect them to shut things down after the break.
SWAMI SAYS: South Adams by 36
